The Italians win their 20th consecutive match this season and triumph against Trentino in Betim
Perugia players pose with the Club World Championship trophy in Betim
Sir Safety Susa Perugia needed only one attempt to secure their first world title as the Italian giants won the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship on Sunday in Betim, Brazil, in their first appearance in the tournament.
Perugia faced national rivals Trentino Itas in the gold medal match and showed strength to come back from a first-set loss to win 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-19) and become the sixth different Italian team to claim the title, joining Trentino, Civitanova, Milano, Ravenna and Parma. Brazil’s Sada Cruzeiro Vôlei completed the podium in third place.
The Club World Championship was the second title won by head coach Andrea Anastasi’s team in the 2022-2023 season after Perugia, who are currently at the top of the standings in the Italian League and in their CEV Champions League pool, also triumphed in the Italian Supercoppa.
Perugia’s undefeated campaign in Betim also extended the team’s winning streak to 20 matches – they have won all their 11 Italian League matches, their four encounters at the Club World Championship, their three Champions League duels and also both their Supercoppa games. Three of these victories were against Trentino, who stood in Perugia’s way in the Supercoppa semifinals and also in the first round of the Italian League.
“I thought our team did great tonight,” team captain Wilfredo Leon commented. “To win the Club World Championship here in Betim is an incredible achievement for our club. I’m really proud of the squad and of what we did, it was a big team win for us. It means a lot to me and to everyone. It was a really difficult week for us here in Betim, but we’re going back home with the trophy, so it’s all worth it. It’s been an incredible season for us and I hope it continues this way.”
Leon his during the gold medal match against Trentino
Perugia’s power from the service line and the team’s blocking strength made a difference in the final as the champions outscored Trentino in aces (ten to eight) and blocks (14 to 11), as well as in kills (43 to 39).
The gold medal match also proved the strength of Perugia’s squad as three players who started the match against Trentino on the bench finished among the team’s top scorers – outside hitter Oleh Plotnytskyi, who tallied 15 points…
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